Arvest Bank and Ultimate Auto Group recently presented three Charity of the Year recipients with individual checks totaling $19,200. The donations are the result of proceeds from the 21st Annual Charity Golf Tournament hosted by Arvest Bank and Ultimate Auto Group that benefits up to three nonprofit organizations located in the bank’s North Central Arkansas territory.

This year’s recipients include The Call of Baxter and Marion Counties, organizations that work “to educate, equip and encourage the Christian community to provide a future and a hope for children in foster care in Arkansas.” Children’s Charity Ministry in Harrison is also a 2017 Charity of the Year. The Christian-based nonprofit provides food, hygiene kits, household necessities and other services to children in need in eight counties in North Central Arkansas.

“Together, we are making a very meaningful and lasting impact in the lives of so many families and children in our area,” said Tom Dame, president and CEO of Arvest Bank in North Central Arkansas. “These donations are possible only because of the participation and generosity of those who contribute to this golf tournament year after year and, for that, we are very grateful.”

Every year the tournament benefits as many as three nonprofit organizations from Baxter, Boone and Marion Counties in Arkansas, and Howell County in Missouri. Eligible charities that are designated as a 501(c)(3) organization are invited each spring to apply for consideration as a Charity of the Year. Recipients are selected by Arvest Bank associates based on past, present and future financial needs, as well as other criteria.

The tournament was held at Big Creek Golf and Country Club in Mountain Home.

About Arvest

Arvest Bank, named by Forbes magazine as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” for 2017, operates more than 250 bank branches in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas through a group of 16 locally managed banks, each with its own board and management team. These banks serve customers in more than 120 communities, with extended weekday banking hours at many locations. Arvest also provides a wide range of banking services including loans, deposits, treasury management, credit cards, mortgage loans and mortgage servicing. Arvest is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC.

Arvest Bank is set to support Texoma Gives, a 16-hour day of giving that raises funds for non-profits in 11 counties around southern Oklahoma and northern Texas, on Thursday, September 7. The event, which is coordinated by the Wichita Falls Area Community Foundation, includes 15 non-profits based around Lawton.

The non-profits will be set up at Lawton Community Theatre (1316 NW Bell Ave) from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Breakfast will be served from 7:30-11 a.m. Arvest will be on location grilling and serving hot dogs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

“Arvest Bank is proud to support such a great initiative like Texoma Gives,” Angela Spradlin, Marketing Manager for Arvest Bank said. “It is important to us to always give back to the community. An event like this one that brings so many non-profits together provides a perfect opportunity to raise funds for all these great organizations that serve Southwest Oklahoma.”

More than 200 non-profits are set to take part with a goal to raise a total of $1 million dollars. In 2017, 146 non-profits raised $750,000 from 4,882 donations, 96% of which online donations.

The American Red Cross is helping the people affected by Hurricane Harvey in Texas and all across the Gulf coast. Shelters are open, truck loads of supplies are being distributed, and volunteers are in place.

All of us here at Arvest send our thoughts and prayers for the people whose lives have been impacted by this disaster, as well as for the volunteers and rescue workers who are putting themselves at great risk to save others.

Links marked with * go to a third-party site not operated or endorsed by Arvest Bank, an FDIC-insured institution.

“My motivation is simple. It’s those kids and those smiles,” Kristin Patterson said.

As co-director of Camp Quality Ozarks, Kristin has one purpose: to let kids be kids, even when they have cancer.

“When you undergo cancer as a child, you grow up very fast. You are entered into the adult world whether you want to or not,” Kristin said. “You lose your hair, you may have scars, but here it doesn’t matter, you’re just a kid. You’re just like the others.”

And just like any kid, those who come to Camp Quality Ozarks want to spend their week having typical summer fun.

“We play basketball, soccer, we have fishing, swimming, yoga, CrossFit, and also a really awesome bike park that they get to play on,” Kristin said.

Bethany is one of the campers that knows Kristin. “Camp Quality is a lot like a home away from home. It really helps you to be like your inner self,” Bethany said. “So people aren’t judging you for what you do or who you’re acting like or whatever.”

Tabitha is another teen participating in Camp Quality. “It’s inspired me to be more of myself and get to know others a lot more. And not let what I’m scared of get in the way of what I know I should and can do,” Tabitha said.

As a child, Kristin experienced the difficulties of cancer and understands what these kids are going through.

“This is my 20th year here at Camp Quality. Eight of those years was as a camper. I was diagnosed with AML leukemia at the age of 10, and went through treatment,” Kristin said. “My sister gave me a bone marrow transplant and I’m very blessed to still be here today.”

Tabitha said she’s able to relate to Kristin more because of their similar experiences. “After going through the same things, it’s a lot easier to bond with her.”

“Kristen is like the big sister I’ve never had,” Tabitha said.

According to Bethany, she knows she can rely on Kristin for help. “If you just need … somebody to have a shoulder to cry on, she’s there,” Bethany said. “She might start crying with you, but she’ll definitely help with whatever you’re going through.”

It can be a challenging job, but it’s always rewarding, according to Kristin.

“It’s knowing that they’re getting to come here and enjoy themselves. Knowing that they’re making friendships that they can carry on. And also that they’re making friendships [with others who] they have something in common with and they’re able to talk to each other about it.”

“But to see those smiles and to see them playing and having fun is the biggest blessing that I could ever have,” Kristin said.

“There is no greater joy than seeing hope restored in a veteran’s life,” said Tron Peterson, who has spent the past decade helping veterans adjust to life after the military.

“I really started seeing the veterans coming back injured, maybe with PTSD, and just ready to give up a lot of times,” Tron said.

“They would go over there so many times, confident, and they would come back and, for a lot of them, it was hard to cope with society. And so I thought, what can I do as an individual?”

That’s why he created Peterson Outdoors Ministries*. His organization provides recreational therapy for injured veterans, with the goal of helping them redefine their purpose in life.

“I really felt that it was put on my heart to have a place that would facilitate those with severe disabilities where they could stay on the property as a family,” Tron said. The organization takes injured veterans outdoors for a range of activities, including fishing and shooting clay pigeons.

“Just to see them interacting again and seeing that joy on their face makes it all worthwhile, he said.

Michael Zittle, a veteran of the Army, has participant in the program. “I was injured twice in service. Once in September 2010 and then again in February 2011. Later that year, I was medically retired from the Army,” Michael said.

“[Peterson Outdoors Ministries] has a lot of adaptive equipment to help veterans or somebody with a disability to get out in the woods again and that brought a smile on my face,” Michael said.

Adam Bracken is a volunteer with the organization. “You can see the impact. You can see tangible results. It’s not mailing a check somewhere,” Adam said. “It’s not putting a bumper sticker on your car that says, ‘Support our Troops.’ It’s meeting people who need help and providing them with the help they need.”

According to Tron, veterans finding hope encourages him to continue his work. “You know there’s so much bad news in the country right now, but whenever you can see a life changed, you see a veteran and his family find hope again, that’s what’s exciting to me, that keeps me going,” he said.

Investment products and services are provided by Arvest Investments, Inc., doing business as Arvest Asset Management, member FINRA/SIPC, an SEC registered investment adviser and a subsidiary of Arvest Bank. Trust services are provided by Arvest Bank. Insurance products are made available through Arvest Insurance, Inc., which is registered as an insurance agency. Insurance products are marketed through Arvest Insurance, Inc., but are underwritten by insurance companies.
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